"So I think, my dear. But King Charles's Court was Liberty Hall, and
every man did that which was right in his own eyes. But Davie stood
very quiet, with the Bible yet open in his hands. He waited his
master's bidding, if they did not. `Oh ay, go on, Davie,' saith the
King, leaning back in his chair and laughing. `Silence for Mr David
Armstrong's sermon!' cries my Lord Rochester, in a voice of a master of
ceremonies. But Davie took no note of any voice but the King's, though
'twas to my Lord Rochester he addressed him when he spoke. `That wine
cheereth man, your Lordship very well knows,' quoth Davie, in his dry
way: and seeing his Lordship had drank a bottle and a half since he sat
down, I should think he did, my dears. `But this, that wine cheereth
God, is referable to the drink-offering commanded by God of the Jews,
wherein the wine doth seem to typify the precious blood of Christ, and
the thankfulness of him that hath his iniquity thereby purged away. For
in the fifteenth chapter of the Book of Numbers you shall find this
drink-offering termed "a sweet savour unto the Lord." And since nothing
but Christ is a sweet savour unto God, therefore we judge that the wine
of the drink-offering, like to that of the Sacrament, did denote the
blood of Christ whereby we are redeemed; the one prefiguring that
whereto it looked forward, as the other doth likewise figure that
whereunto it looketh back. This, therefore, that wine cheereth God, is
to be understood by an emblem, of the blood of Christ, our Mediator; for
through this means God is well pleased in the way of salvation that He
hath appointed, whereby His justice is satisfied. His law fulfilled,
His mercy reigneth, His grace doth triumph, all His perfections do agree
together, the sinner is saved, and God in Christ glorified. Now, Sire,
I have done your bidding, and I humbly ask your Majesty's leave to
withdraw.' The King said naught, but cast him a nod of consent. My
dears, you never saw such a change as had come over that table. Every
man seemed sobered and awed. The Queen was weeping, the King silent and
thoughtful. My Lord Rochester, whom at that time nothing could sober
long, was the only one to speak, and rising with make-believe gravity,
as though in his place in the House of Lords, he offered a motion that
the King should please to send Mr Howard into the kitchen to make kail,
and raise the Reverend Mr David Armstrong to the place of chaplain."

"